Multi-tool

Abstract

A multi-tool includes a pair of plates having respective handle portions, joint portions, and head portions, and the plates pivotally connected to each other at the joint portions and having respective opposite edges extended along the handle portions. At least one of the plates is to be pivoted relative to the other of the plates to establish an open position and a closed position of the plates, and, in the closed position of the plates, the plates to overlap each other and the opposite edges of the handle portions of the plates to be substantially aligned.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-tool, comprising:
 a pair of plates having respective handle portions, joint portions, and head portions, 
 the plates pivotally connected to each other at the joint portions and having respective opposite sides extended along the handle portions and respective opposite edges extended along the handle portions, one of the opposite edges of each of the plates including a contiguous planar surface extended along a portion of each of the handle portion, the joint portion, and the head portion of each of the plates, 
 at least one of the plates to be pivoted relative to the other of the plates to establish an open position and a closed position of the plates, 
 in the closed position of the plates, the plates to overlap each other with the handle portion of the at least one of the plates to cover the handle portion of the other of the plates, opposing sides of the opposite sides extended along the handle portions of the plates to face each other, and the opposite edges extended along the handle portions of the plates to be aligned with each other, 
 the head portions of the plates including respective tips to disengage and engage a chain link of a roller chain, the tips to be aligned with each other in a common plane parallel with the plates. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-tool of  claim 1 , the opposite edges of the plates further extended along the joint portions of the plates, and
 in the closed position of the plates, the opposite edges extended along the joint portions of the plates to be aligned. 
 
     
     
       3. The multi-tool of  claim 1 , the head portions of the plates having respective shoulders to limit rotation of the plates relative to each other. 
     
     
       4. The multi-tool of  claim 1 , the head portions of the plates including opposing, concave gripping surfaces aligned with each other in the common plane parallel with the plates, the opposing, concave gripping surfaces to form gripping jaws. 
     
     
       5. The multi-tool of  claim 1 , the handle portions of the plates including respective magnetic elements to magnetically couple the handle portions of the plates. 
     
     
       6. The multi-tool of  claim 1 , the handle portion of one of the plates including a storage area to receive and store a chain link for a roller chain,
 in the closed position of the plates, the other of the plates to cover the storage area. 
 
     
     
       7. The multi-tool of  claim 6 , the storage area including a recessed region formed in a side of the one of the plates and at least one hole formed through the one of the plates within the recessed region,
 the recessed region to receive a link plate of the chain link, and the at least one hole to receive a link pin extended from the link plate. 
 
     
     
       8. The multi-tool of  claim 7 , the at least one hole of the storage area including a corresponding recess at an opposite side of the one of the plates. 
     
     
       9. The multi-tool of  claim 7 , the recessed region of the storage area including a magnetic element to retain the link plate of the chain link within the recessed region. 
     
     
       10. A multi-tool, comprising:
 a pair of plates pivotally connected to each other, 
 each of the plates having a handle portion, a joint portion, and a head portion, and having an edge including a contiguous planar surface extended along a portion of each of the handle portion, the joint portion, and the head portion thereof, 
 a thickness of the joint portion of one of the plates being less than a thickness of the handle portion of the one of the plates, and 
 a thickness of the handle portion of the other of the plates being less than a thickness of the joint portion of the other of the plates, and 
 in a closed position of the plates, the handle portion of the one of the plates to cover the handle portion of the other of the plates, with one side of the handle portion of the one of the plates facing an opposite side of the handle portion of the other of the plates and opposite edges of the handle portion of the one of the plates aligned with opposite edges of the handle portion of the other of the plates, 
 the head portion of each of the plates including a jaw section to form gripping jaws, the gripping jaws including opposing, concave gripping surfaces. 
 
     
     
       11. The multi-tool of  claim 10 , the thickness of the joint portion of the one of the plates being less than the thickness of the handle portion of the one of the plates forming a shoulder on one side of the one of the plates, and
 the thickness of the handle portion of the other of the plates being less than the thickness of the joint portion of the other of the plates forming a shoulder on one side of the other of the plates. 
 
     
     
       12. The multi-tool of  claim 11 , the shoulder on the one side of the one of the plates and the shoulder on the one side of the other of the plates being correspondingly positioned on opposing sides of the plates such that the joint portion of the one of the plates and the joint portion of the other of the plates nest with each other. 
     
     
       13. The multi-tool of  claim 10 , the head portion of each of the plates including a tip to be received in a teeth receiving opening of a roller chain. 
     
     
       14. The multi-tool of  claim 10 , the handle portion of the one of the plates including a dished section to form a tire lever. 
     
     
       15. The multi-tool of  claim 14 , the handle portion of the other of the plates having an opening therethrough to form a wrench.